Who is Neal Mohan: Indian-origin YouTube CEO crowned CEO of the Year 2025

Your daily cycle of YouTube recommendations, your favourite YouTubers, and your routine of staying updated with their uploads all function smoothly because of a mind that has been managing YouTube since 2023. Neal Mohan, is an Indian-origin CEO of the video platform that has 122 million active users daily, as per Global Media Insight.

The 52-year-old was recently crowned as the CEO of the Year 2025 by TIMES and has been in the headlines ever since. Who is Neal Mohan? Here's all you need to know about him.

Who is Neal Mohan?

Neal Mohan was born in Lafayette, Indiana, US. He relocated to Lucknow with his parents in 1985 at the age of 12. His father was a civil engineer who went to the US to complete his PhD.

He completed his high school in Lucknow and earned his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering and MBA from Stanford University. As per reports, he is fluent in Hindi and has also studied Sanskrit during his schooling in India.

Neal Mohan's career

Post his graduation, Mohan began working as a Senior Analyst at Accenture and then as a Manager of Corporate Strategy in Microsoft Corporation for a brief period of time.

He joined DoubleClick Inc. where he served in senior roles such as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Product Management. But the peak of his career began when he joined Google in 2008 as Senior Vice President of Display and Video Ads. He contributed to the tech giant's ad products and was at the centre of their digital advertising machine.

In 2015, he moved to YouTube as Chief Product Officer, a position he held for seven years. And in 2023, he joined the elite club of Indian-origin CEOs heading major global corporations as he took up the title at the video-sharing platform.

But that's not all, Mohan dons many hats, he is also on the boards of major organisations such as Starbucks, 23andMe and Paley Center for Media.

Neal Mohan on limiting screen time for kids

One would assume the children of the world's largest video sharing platform would be hooked on to technology. But at the Mohan abode, so is not the case. As concerns about mental health and screen time rise, Mohan explained to TIME that his kids do not have unlimited access to YouTube or other digital platforms. “We do limit their time on YouTube and other platforms and other forms of social media. On weekdays we tend to be more strict, on weekends we tend to be less so. We’re not perfect by any stretch,” he said.

He stressed that "everything in moderation" is what works for him and his wife. Recently, various countries have been raising concerns about the effect of digital media on children with countries like Australia even banning social media for those under 16. Mohan's comment adds weight to the larger attention the topic is receiving worldwide.

How is Neal Mohan as a leader?

Well, if the creators he works with are to go by, Mohan is an exemplary personality. Talking to Time Magazine, Kinigra Deon, a YouTube content creator shared she loves that Mohan takes creators seriously.

“I would say Neal is very well prepared,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to the outlet. “He understands what he’s trying to build. He’s got a deep understanding of the media landscape and where YouTube fits and where content can help him advance his strategies.”

As for his family, Mohan shares three kids, two daughters and a son with his wife Hema Sareen Mohan. Neal Mohan is a classic example of how dreams can be achieved, big or small, if you work hard for them and keep them in sight and mind. His plans for YouTube are big and good and chances are he will execute them all successfully, as he has in all his endeavours.